Co-founder dies in accident
Griffin, who started the ALS ice bucket challenge with his friend Pete Frates, dies in a diving accident on Nantucket. Griffin had recently learned that the $100,000 had been raised for ALS, and he was very excited. His father tells The Boston Globe:
He was the happiest guy in the world. He called me last night and told me he was in paradise.
Griffin was visiting Nantucket in hopes of raising more money for the cause. At around 2:00 AM, Griffin dove off the Juice Guys’ building into Nantucket Harbor and drowned. A friend tells WHDH (Chanel 7 in Boston):
He threw himself behind a lot of causes. Way more so than anyone, you know, of our generation. And just put his heart and soul behind these things. He did it for Boston Children’s Hospital. He has been doing it more recently for ALS.
19 Lebanese soldiers dead
The Lebanese military confirms that 19 soldiers have died in its battle against ISIS and Al Qaeda affiliate the Al-Nusra Front for the border town of Arsal. At least 60 militants are also dead. Army statement on the most recent death:
Cpl. Suheil Mohammad Dannawi, born in 1987 in Tripoli, north Lebanon, was killed in the battle waged by the Army against terrorist groups in the area of Arsal.
Lauren Bacall dies at 89
Bacall dies at the age of 89 from a stroke in her home in New York. The Humphrey Bogart Estate confirms her death in a tweet.
With deep sorrow, yet with great gratitude for her amazing life, we confirm the passing of Lauren Bacall.
JJ Murphy dies at age 86
Murphy dies at age 86. Murphy was cast to play Ser Denys Mallister, the oldest member of the Night’s Watch, in the fifth season of Game of Thrones. After only four days into filming his scenes, the actor collapses and dies.
Danny Murphy dies aged 58
Danny Murphy dies of cancer at the age of 58. He dies in Florida, where he has moved several years ago. In a strange twist of fate, Murphy dies on the exact date of his diving accident 40 years ago. Director Peter Farrelly says:
Every time he was on the set he was just a ball. Every crew member felt the joy of being around Danny, and so did the actors.
42 Lebanese civilians dead
A medical official says 42 civilians have died while over 400 are wounded in clashes between the military and fighters from ISIS and Al Qaeda branch the Al-Nusra Front for control of the border town of Arsal. Lebanese Red Cross official Abdullah Zogheib says medics have evacuated 42 wounded people after the rebels retreat, mostly women and children:
Most of them had very serious wounds. They had been shot by bullets, some in the head, and there were amputees from shell fire
China: 600 deaths
The death toll from an earthquake in Yunnan Province in China has risen dramatically from 300 on Wednesday, to close to 600. Volunteers are now being told to stay away, after eagerly turning up in large numbers to help. Ludian County, a mountainous region of the province is the hardest hit, with more than 500 people feared dead. Disaster Bureau:
In order to ensure the best chances of rescuing survivors, we advise non-professional groups and volunteers against entering the quake zone by themselves so as not to cause traffic and communication difficulties.
Marilyn Burns dies at 64
Burns dies aged of 64. She is found dead by a family member and her cause of death is unknown. Chris Roe, her talent manager:
It is with sad news that I can officially confirm that actress, Marilyn Burns passed away earlier today.
Harold Greene dies
Greene is killed while in Kabul, Afghanistan, by a man dressed as an Afghan soldier. It is believed Greene was not targeted but that the gunman opened fire and he was one of the 15 that were hit. This was his first deployment into the war zone and he was preparing troops for when they would be sent back at the end of this year. Greene is the highest ranked officer killed in combat since the 1970 Vietnam war and had been in the army for 34 years. General Ray Odierno:
It is service and sacrifice that define us as an army. Our priority right now is to take care of the families, ensuring they have all the resources they need during this critical time.
Antibodies from survivors
Researchers consider using blood transfusions from Ebola survivors to pass antibodies into infected people, as no vaccines or drugs are approved yet. Dr. Peter Piot, director of London’s School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and co-discoverer of the virus:
This is something that’s fairly simple to do
WHO’s network of international blood regulators says there are thousands of survivors from past Ebola outbreaks in Africa. It says it has identified several patients as possible donors and the first batch of blood from survivors could be available later in the year, but adds:
[The] logistics of blood collection are an issue
Blood from donors must also be screened for other illnesses such as HIV and malaria before it can be used.
Jim Brady dies at 73
Brady dies at the age of 73 from a series of health issues. Josh Ernest, the current Press Secretary:
Brady “leaves the kind of legacy … that certainly this press secretary and all future press secretaries will aspire to live up to
He is survived by his wife, Sarah; a son, Scott; and a daughter, Melissa.
Kidnapped soldier declared dead
The Israel Defense Forces says 2nd. Lt. Hadar Goldin has died in Gaza and is listed as a fallen soldier whose resting place is unknown. The decision to declare him dead is made according to the findings of a special board headed by IDF Chief Rabbi Brigadier Gen. Rafi Peretz, which takes into account medical evidence and halachic considerations of Jewish law among other factors. The message is delivered to the family by Peretz, Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon, IDF Head of Personnel Major General Orna Barbibay. Goldin in an interview on completing officer training:
In life, you can choose to do things for yourself and you can choose to do great things.
Michael Johns dies age 35
Johns dies at age 35. Official cause of death has yet to be issued. Sources have stated the singer had a blood clot in his ankle.
It is with a heavy heart and inconsolable sadness that we confirm the passing of our friend Michael Johns. No other details will be available at this time. Please respect the privacy of Mike’s family and friends as we know you will.
‘Miracle baby’ dies after 6 days
Baby Shayma dies in her incubator six days after she is born by emergency caesarian following the death of her 23-year-old mother, Shayma al-Sheikh Qanan.
https://twitter.com/ayeshaacarmouche/statuses/494468178064732160
Umar Khan dies of Ebola
Khan dies after contracting Ebola. Chief medical officer Dr Brima Kargbo:
It is a big and irreparable loss to Sierra Leone as he was the only specialist the country had in viral haemorrhagic fevers.
Doctors without Borders:
His work and dedication have been greatly appreciated by the medical community in Sierra Leone for many years. He will be remembered and missed by many, especially by the doctors and nurses that worked with him. MSF’s sincere thoughts and condolences are with Dr. Khan’s family, friends and colleagues.
Baby born after mother dies
A baby is born by emergency caesarian after her mother dies in the central Gaza strip. 23-year-old Shayma al-Sheikh Qanan is taken to Deir al-Balah hospital in Khan Younis. Dr. Fadi al-Kharti:
Her body was brought in after an Israeli shelling at 3am on Friday. We tried to revive her but she had died on the way. Then we noticed movement in her stomach, and estimated she was about 36 weeks pregnant
43-year-old Mirfat Qanan:
God has protected this child for me. My daughter Shayma is dead, but I now have a new daughter. She’ll call me ‘mummy’ just like her mother did.
Haris Suleman dead at 17
The Sulemans plane crashes over the Pacific Ocean. The Sulemans’ Beech A36 Bonanza went down shortly after takeoff from Pago Pago in American Samoa at about 10:15 p.m. Authorities were alerted to its location by signals from the flight’s emergency beacon system. The plane was found in pieces, according to a Coast Guard officer in Honolulu, with the body of Haris nearby. The Coast Guard say they are still looking for the father. Captain Tulele Laolagi:
We found a young boy still strapped to his seat. I think he was ejected from the plane, but it’s too early to tell.
Suleman’s sister:
With a trip like this, there’s always a risk, and they did prepare for that risk.
13 killed
A total of 13 Golani Brigade soldiers are killed in a single morning of operations in Gaza while brigade commander Col. Gen. Rasan Alian is moderately wounded in an exchange of fire and hospitalized in Soroka University Medical Center in Beersheba. A timeline released by the Israel Defense Forces:
1:05 a.m., an armored personnel carrier catches fire after an explosive device is set off under it. Seven soldiers are killed. Reportedly, the APC was not fitted with armor that could withstand this type of blast.
1:30 a.m., a soldier is killed when two soldiers get into a firefight with terrorists.
5:45 a.m., another Golani force gets into a firefight with terrorists. Two soldiers are killed.
8:50 a.m., three soldiers are killed when a Golani squad is caught inside a burning building.
McCole Bartusiak dead at 21
McCole Bartusiak ‘s boyfriend finds Bartusiak sitting in her bed inside the garage apartment next to her parents’ Houston home, leading her mother to believe she had a seizure and choked. Before paramedics arrived, her mother starts cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Paramedics spent 45 minutes trying to revive the actress, but could not get a heartbeat. Bartusiak’s mother:
I’ve done CPR on that kid more than one time, and it just didn’t work this time
In the days before she died McCole Bartusiak had been suffering epileptic seizures, according to her mother.
James Garner dead at 86
Garner dies at the age of 86. Police find him at his home around 8:00 PM. No specific cause of death has been determined.